2024 Sustainability Report
Healthy water cycles
Domain: Walking the talk in our operations
Aspiration to 2030: The University has used water efficiently and contributed to healthy water cycles.
Progress against targets
| Target | Target status | Progress in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| The University has reduced total water consumption by 10 per cent relative to a 2019 baseline. |  In progress |
|
| The University has significantly increased the proportion of water consumption from non-potable sources compared to a 2019 baseline. |  Needs attention |
|
Our progress
Water consumption in 2024
Total mains water consumption in 2024 was estimated at 444,588.4kL at the time of publication, equal to the 2019 baseline. However, at the time of publication approximately 5 per cent of water bills for 2024 are outstanding due to delays with external billing systems. The University will need to do more to ensure it maintains its target of reducing total water consumption by 10 per cent by 2025, relative to a 2019 baseline.
Total water use | 2017-2024
Click here to see data table of dataset used above
Just one per cent of total mains water consumption was attributed to the mains recycled water line at the Werribee campus, which is used for irrigation, animal pen wash down, toilet flushing and supplementary cooling of wet pad chillers in the Library and Teaching Building (Building 418).
For the first time, the University has recorded its water usage at the Dookie campus. The Dookie campus does not have any mains water supply. Instead, it holds licenses to pump water from the Broken River and either uses raw water for agricultural related purposes or treats it for human use in its on-site water treatment plant (see image). In 2024, approximately 338 megalitres of river water was extracted.
Following infrastructure and technological improvements made to the existing water tank system at Burnley campus at the end of 2023, the heritage gardens are now irrigated by non-potable water as a default. In 2024, 140 kL of rainwater was used to irrigate the grounds and flush the toilets in the Student Hub Building (Building 908).
In 2024, $570,000 was invested in projects that will support future target achievement. Projects included:
- Upgrading the remaining ~40 battery-powered irrigation controllers at Parkville campus to smart controllers that can be controlled remotely via the Hydrawise System. Following the completion of this project, scheduling of irrigation for the entire Parkville campus will be informed by weather forecasts and can be measured accurately and controlled remotely.
- Infrastructure and technological improvements made to the Dookie Water Treatment Plant (see image), delivering the following benefits:
- A reduction in the number of chemical inputs required to treat water.
- A reduction in electricity consumption to operate the treatment plant.
- A reduction in the amount of wastewater generated during the treatment process.
- A reduction in the number of interruptions to water supply for the campus.
- Increased accuracy of consumption data.
- Better quality potable water.
Our sustainability strategy
At the University of Melbourne, our efforts in sustainability are guided by Sustainability Plan 2030 - a roadmap for sustainable delivery of our institutional strategy Advancing Melbourne.
Read more about how we are advancing sustainability at the University:
